Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether WestCare Foundation employees were required to pay higher health-insurance premiums, lost employer health-plan contributions, or missed out on other health-plan benefits because they did not complete certain wellness-program requirements.
Publicly available benefits materials indicate that WestCare Foundation offers health-plan incentives through wellness challenges and other wellness-program activities. The program reportedly may require both employees and covered spouses to complete wellness activities in order for employees to receive the full employer contribution toward health-insurance premiums or other available health-plan benefits.
These requirements may have included:
- completing a biometric screening;
- taking a health-risk assessment or medical questionnaire;
- participating in health coaching or wellness challenges;
- meeting targets for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight, or BMI;
- allowing a spouse to complete a screening or health questionnaire;
- submitting medical information by a particular deadline; or
- completing other wellness-program requirements necessary to receive the full employer contribution or premium discount.
Federal law places limits on how employers and health plans may use wellness programs to charge employees different amounts for health coverage. In many circumstances, employees must be given a reasonable alternative way to earn the same reward or avoid the same penalty. Employees may also be entitled to clear notice of that alternative and, after completing it, the full value of the discount or benefit.
Additional protections may apply when a wellness program requires medical examinations, disability-related questions, family medical information, or information about a spouse’s health.
We Are Interested in Hearing From Current and Former WestCare Foundation Employees Who:
- paid more for medical coverage because they did not complete a wellness requirement;
- lost an employer premium contribution or wellness incentive;
- did not complete required wellness challenges, screenings, or health assessments;
- were not told that an alternative was available;
- requested an alternative but were denied or delayed;
- completed an alternative but did not receive the full employer contribution or premium benefit;
- lost a benefit because a spouse did not participate; or
- believe the wellness program was confusing, unfair, or difficult to complete.
You may have rights even if the additional charge appeared on your paystub as a “wellness surcharge,” “premium differential,” “non-wellness rate,” “standard premium,” or as the loss of an employer health-plan contribution.
If you participated in WestCare Foundation’s health plan and were affected by its wellness program, please contact Migliaccio & Rathod LLP. There is no charge to speak with us, and there is no obligation to take legal action.
If you believe you encountered these issues, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (202) 470-3520.